Manchester united vs Blackburn match preview

Manchester United will be looking forward to gift Sir Alex Ferguson a perfect 70th birthday gift by leading the table with a victory over Blackburn Rovers. United will be keen to end 2011 with a bang at the Theater of Dreams.

Form Guide :
Following the 5-0 destruction of Wigan, Manchester United will be looking to continue their fine run of 5 straight wins with a sixth one. Only one goal conceded in those five games shows their quality of defense despite the absence of Nemanja Vidic. While Blackburn have been struggling, the moral boosting draw at Liverpool showed they can accomplish anything in their day.

Super Strikers; Strikers of Top 7 clubs compared.

Robin Van Persie has been sensational this season as his goals tally suggest. Along with him Demba Ba has surprised everybody with his superb vision for goals. Rooney and Aguero have also scored fluently this season having already bagged 13 goals each.Newcastle are 7th in the league and seem to depend too much on Demba Ba. 56% of their goals have come from Ba. That's a big number. Arsenal's dependency on Van Persie is also clearly visible. Taking this into account United and City do have an edge over their rivals in terms of Attacking options. Dimitar Berbatov has the better mins per goal statistic despite not played too often so far this season. Last season’s top goalscorer has scored 1 goal every 62 minutes in the league, helped by his hatrick in the last game. Edin Dzeko does not find himself too far behind in this regard scoring 1 goal every 69 ninutes having played a lot more and scoring more than double what Dimitar Berbatov has.

Manchester United Christmas challenges: Carrick, Evans and Fabio

Without a Doubt, United are United

Despite of two point behind Manchester city winger Adam johnson believe united are still biggest threat to their title.
Sir Alex Ferguson's squad is just two point behind despite the injury poblems.

Elimination from the Champions League and their chastening defeat to Manchester City has led to some to prematurely predict Manchester United's demise, however Johnson believes

"Without a doubt, United are United - you can never write them off." The Manchester City winger told the Times. "They will always be there or thereabouts and will never give up.

Revenge is Coming by aditya_reds (HD)

Fulham vs manchester united match highlights

Injury problem coming to an end

Sir Alex Ferguson believes that there is light showing at the end of the tunnel for Manchester United's injury crisis, with Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez both close to match fitness again and Rafael da Silva in training.

The Red Devils were suffering from a mammoth nine injuries after Darren Fletcher pulled out of training with an ongoing illness, with a host of midfielders, defenders and strikers leaving the squad looking particularly bare.
It showed a massive turnaround for a United squad that appeared so full of depth at the start of the season, but with Berbatov and Hernandez both on the bench on Sunday, and Hernandez coming on in the 63^rd minute for Danny Welbeck, Ferguson believes the side are getting strong at just the right time.
"The injuries are improving a little. It's getting a little better," he told the official Manchester United website

"It's nice to have these two players [Berbatov and Hernandez] back, Rafa is training now, he might just need a game in the reserves.
"Obviously we'd still like to have Anderson and Cleverley, and a few others, but overall we're satisfied with what we have at this time."
United are currently second in the Premier League table, and are just two points away from title leaders Manchester City. The club have done well to make up for lost points, particularly after being thrashed 6-1 by their cross town rivals.
While they have suffered setbacks, including being knocked out of the Carling Cup by lower league side Crystal Palace and the Champions League group stages by FC Basel, United are still in prime position to remain in the title race - though Ferguson believes they need to be still in the running on January 1^st to mount a serious challenge.
"The important thing is to be there on New Year's Day," he said.
"If you're involved right at the top part then you know the second half of the season, we'll relish that."

Transfer News: Red Devils Close to sign Dutch striker

English league champions Manchester United are reportedly close to signing German Bundesliga club Schalke 04's Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The German club, however, is believed to be desperate to hold on to their prized possession.

QPR vs Manchester united: match preview

Qpr vs man utd

After the 4-1 win over Wolves. Champion Red devil will travel to Loftus Road for the match against promoted team QPR. Red devil aren't bitten in league after 1-6 hammering from city, hence manchester united will hope for the best result at LOFTUS ROAD. After the city's defeat against chelsea man utd have close the gap, and its one of the most important match which help to challenge league Man city.

venue : Loftus Road

KO: Sunday |12:00pm GMT

TV: ESPN (U.K.), Fox Soccer Plus (U.S.), FoxSoccer.tv (internet)

Referee: Howard Webb (Matches 10, R3 Y37).
INJURY: 
man utd  : Vidic (knee), Hernandez, Cleverley (both ankle), Owen (thigh), Anderson (knee), Fabio (hamstring), Fletcher (illness), Rafael (undefined), Gibson (dobtful)
qpr : Murphy (calf), Kenny (thigh), Hulse (knee), Dyer (foot).

Stat of the game: Queens Park Rangers have met Manchester United eight times in the Barclays Premier League and have never beaten them, either at Old Trafford or Loftus Road. 

Team news

Darren Fletcher has become the latest player added to Manchester United's absentee list, after it was confirmed that the midfielder is taking an extensive break due to suffering from ulcerative colitis.
However, it was also confirmed that Dimitar Berbatov is available for the game at Loftus Road and will therefore provide extra attacking options.
Long term injury-victims including Tom Cleverley, Nemanja Vidic, Javier Hernandez, Anderson and Michael Owen continue to miss out.
Anton Ferdinand is a doubt for Sunday's clash, as the defender limped off in QPR's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend.
Matt Connolly and DJ Campbell could both feature after being involved for the reserves in midweek.
 Probable line ups
QPR (Probable, 4-4-2): Cerny; Young, Hall, Gabbidon, Traoré; Wright-Phillips, Faurlin, Barton, Smith; Mackie, Bothroyd.
United (Probable, 4-4-2): De Gea; Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Jones, Nani; Welbeck, Rooney.

Berbatov is Back

Berbatov

After all those injury news, finally man utd have some good news on injury. Dimitar Berbatov has been declared fit to play agains Queen's Park Rangers. The Bulgarian strkier has missed the side's last thress games after limping off at half time of the Reds Carling cup defeat against Crystal Palace on 30 Nov with a foot injury.


In the press conference, SAF said “Berbatov’s fit. Rafael is back training as well. Darron Gibson got a knock last night [for the Reserves]. He was taken off as a precaution but he should be okay.”


Fixture at Loftus Road is very difficult fixture, in this season only two sides have won.


But Saf is confident of his team performance and said


    “We always enjoy going to Queens Park Rangers. It’s always a good atmosphere. We have a good record there and I hope we can continue that.

    “They’ve done well and given themselves a chance of staying in the league by investing. It’s going to be a hard game. Queens Park Rangers have invested the right way. Neil Warnock realised that when you get into the Premier League you need big players.

    “Norwich, Swansea and QPR [all the promoted teams] have done well and adapted to the demands of the league. The rest test, though, is in the second half of the season.”

Anderson finally gets a hair cut

SAF welcome Ajax

Ferguson

 Ferguson's Manchester united will face Ajax in europa league. SAF says that he is looking forward to going up Ajax with Manchester United for the first time in his managerial career.

Ferguson added "I have never played Ajax before in competitive football in my managerial career. they are a good team and we are looking forward to it."

"the tie against the Dutch is evocative of a top European clash" reported goal.com

Ajax manager said “United is a fantastic opponent. I'd rather had them in the Champions League, but that's behind us now,”. He added “We can't do anything about it anymore."
“We do have chances against them because I don't expect them to start with their best squad. Still they will bring quality players on the pitch.
“I think it's going to be a good experience for the trainers and off course for the players, that's the most important thing"

Chris Smalling told that Meeting with Ajax is gonna be one of the tought challenge. he added "eliminating from Champions league was a night mare but now we have to look forward to europa league"
"We have drawn Ajax, they have a lot of history. That will be a good test.

"If you are in there, a lot of the teams will be kicking on. Whoever wins the competition will be a good team."

Saf looking for long term replacement

SAF claims that he will buy only a player in this january and its from scouting, and with the club being widely connected to Nicolas Gaitan, the Benfica midfielder is set to be the subject of a great deal of transfer rumours coming up to the next window.

Ferguson replied ""Not necessarily. I don't know why people keep going on about it." when he was asked weather man utd will buy players or not after these injuries?

After the retirement of scholes united are in need for a playmaker and though Gaitan would cost around £25 million, his wage is more lower than Wesley Sneijder who was linked with manchester united over six months.

The starlet has scored eight goals in 32 appearances for Benfica since moving to the club in the 2010 summer, and he has been rated as having the potential to be a top European talent by numerous pundits and experts, including Ferguson himself.

"Gaitan played with intelligence and showed great individual skill," Ferguson said when Benfica faced United in the Champions League group stages, and the Scot is reportedly stepping up his chase of the 23 year old in the hopes of bringing him to Old Trafford.

Tribalfootball: Ronaldo could make shock return to england

I was just surfing net about the latest man utd news and when i read this news i just jumped due to happiness. Tribalfootball were reporting that ronaldo is unsettled at madrid and could make shock return to england.

Ronaldo was shocked by the jeers from home fans aimed at him during the defeat to Barcelona on Saturday night.

The Portuguese spent the Sunday bunkered down at home with his family, stunned by the backlash.

Agent confirmed : Macheda on loan

Manchester United have confirmed to Federico Macheda's agent that the striker is likely to be sent on loan in January, in order to build up game time and be able to compete with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez for a starting spot on the squad.

Macheda has featured just five times for Sir Alex Ferguson's first team squad this season, scoring a goal in the club's shock loss to Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup.

Ferguson admitted at the time that the youngsters at United need to get some more game time in the second half of the season, and hinted that he would consider sending the likes of Macheda, Ravel Morrison and Ezekiel Fryers out to other clubs in January.

Cleverley confident of united's good result

Tom Cleverley has admitted he was "always confident" Manchester United could keep pace with rivals City in the race for the Premier League crown.  City squandered the chance to move five points clear of Manchester United on Monday evening when they lost 2-1 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.  Manchester United now trail Roberto Mancini's side by two points ahead of Sunday's trip to QPR. United will go top if they win at Loftus Road and City lose against Arsenal later the same day.  Cleverley, who remains side-lined with an ankle injury, said he was confident the Manchester United squad was strong enough to cope with a mounting injury list and elimination from the Champions League.  "Monday was their [City's] first slip-up of the season ... but we were always confident we could catch them. It's going to be an interesting weekend," the Manchester United midfielder told Sky Sports.

"We've got a great team spirit so if anyone can bounce back from disappointment it would be our squad.
"We've had a lot of tough games in a short period of time and we've been knocked out of two tournaments [the Champions League and the Carling Cup] - but we are still well placed in the league."

paul Ince suggest SAF to go for Modric or Iniesta

iniesta

modric

Paul Ince believes Manchester United are lacking some much needed creativity in their midfield and has urged Sir Alex Ferguson to try and sign Barcelona talisman Andres Iniesta or Tottenham Hotspur's Luka Modric.

The former Manchester United midfielder, who played alongside Old Trafford luminaries such as Roy Keane and Bryan Robson, believes players like the aforementioned tough tackling stars are a thing of the past and instead cites Modric and Andres Iniesta as the new breed of modern midfielders. 

Manchester united in unicef Gala dinner (PHOTOES)

"United for UNICEF Gala Dinner," a partnership between Manchester United and UNICEF for helping the disadvantaged children across the world, was held at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester.
It is the 12th year of the partnership and is considered as the longest between a charity and a Premier League football team.
The glamourous annual gala event was attended by Sir Alex Ferguson and United's first-team players and coaching staff.

Have a look at the guests at the black-tie event (PHOTOES):

Carrick and wife Lisa arrive for the UNICEF Gala Dinner at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester on 12/12/2011.

Young and girlfriend Pike arrive for the UNICEF Gala Dinner at Old Trafford

Another big blow for Champions

MAN UNITED INJURY LIST :
Vidic,
Hernandez,
Rafael,
Fabio,
Berbatov,
Anderson,
Owen,
Cleverley,
  

NOW FLETCHER

Manchester United have suffered another serious setback in their defence of the Premier League title amid fears at Old Trafford that Darren Fletcher's career is on the line because of the health issues that have ruled him out for the season and left Sir Alex Ferguson with a gaping hole in his midfield.
Fletcher is taking what United have described as an "extended break" after doctors warned him he was putting his health at serious risk by continuing to play despite the rare bowel condition that has affected him for the last year.
United are so concerned about the health of the Scotland international captain they have been unable to put any timescale on how long he will need out of the game, or even guarantee that he will be able to resume his career.
Until now, the champions have attributed Fletcher's spells out of the team to a mystery virus, but the club have

Transfer Rumor: Red Devils interested on Tottenham’s Brazilian Midfielder?

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly is interested in Tottenham's young Brazilian defensive midfielder Sandro and believes that the player could be the key to bolster his squad's midfield that, only recently, has seen lack of mettle against opponents.

Sandro, 22, was previously linked with United whilst he was with Brazilian side Internacional and now Ferguson is looking to bring in the player as early as in January to help the players come through the club's academy, and also to add steel to the current squad's midfield.

Although Ferguson has a host of central midfield options, he still lacks a defensively minded combative player to help break down any advances from the opposition, and is now monitoring the Brazilian international who has spent most of his time on bench this season at the White Hart Lane following the arrival of Englishman Scott Parker from West Ham in the summer.

United previously decided not to offer Owen Hargreaves a new deal in the summer due to the growing injury concerns and during the many months the England international spent on the sidelines with injuries, the boss had to fill up the space with the likes of Anderson, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher, who had to combine

Transfer Rumour: will man utd pay £42 for Benfica Pair

English Champions Manchester United have reportedly accelerated their interest in the Portuguese Primeira Liga side Benfica’s talented midfield pair – Spaniard Javi Garcia and Argentine Nicolas Gaitan – and are planning to move in with an official bid before any other clubs in Europe do.

United had previously sent scouts to monitor both Gaitan and Garcia at Benfica’s matches against Naval and Sporting Lisbon matches to know more about the players and their playing styles, rather than to prepare for United’s Champions League encounter with Benfica which took place on Nov. 22. Both the players featured in the game.

It is now clear that the United boss Sir Alex Ferguson feels that he needs to reinforce his squad after his side was eliminated from this year’s Champions League and also fell five points behind local rivals Manchester City in the Premier League title race. An attempt to sign these players may help to make up for the lost time

United back in style: Man utd vs wolves HIGHLIGHTS

 

I wept like a kid in the dressing room in Basel

Nani has admitted he wept like a child after his club’s Champions League exit.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad were stunned by the way they were knocked out by Swiss side Basel on Wednesday night.
Portuguese winger Nani said: “I wept like a kid in the dressing room in Basel.

We are in it, we will win it

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Manchester United will be going all out to win the Europa League.
In the immediate aftermath of United's Champions League exit in Basel on Wednesday, Ferguson claimed being dumped into UEFA's secondary club competition was a "punishment".
This reaction did not go down well with UEFA president Michel Platini, who would presumably be even less pleased to learn that Patrice Evra had called it "an embarrassment" and Rio Ferdinand said it had left United open to "ridicule".
Ferguson, who had to be informed that United and Manchester City will not be allowed to play at home on the same night, was anxious to clarify his comments.
He is determined that his players will be fully focused on lifting the only European trophy - it remains the old UEFA Cup - they have never won.
"The Europa League is a good competition and a strong competition," he said.
"You only need to look at the teams left in it.
"I made the point the other night that it's a punishment for us to be in the Europa League.
"What I mean by that is for 20 years this club has only thought about the Champions League. We've only thought about winning that European Cup.
"That's the punishment in terms of the disappointment of not being able to challenge for it this year, especially having been in three finals in the last four years.
"It's not a slight against the Europa League - it's a competition we want to win. We're in it and we'll try to win it."
Platini had launched a defence of the Europa League following Ferguson's initial comments.
He said "the world does not revolve around England" and "you shouldn't criticise the Europa League just

Match Preview: Manchester United vs Wolves

United welcome Wolves to Old Trafford on the back of an exceptionally bad week.
Not only were United knocked out of the Champions’ League at the group stages but Vidic was ruled out for the rest of the season and they were consigned to Thursday (or Tuesday if you believe some recent press reports) and Sunday fixtures. One benefit that must be had from this week, however, is that the Europa League does offer Ferguson a chance to a) ‘focus on the league’ and b) blood some of the youngsters and fringe players in European competition. This could be a platform from which Pogba, Berbatov, Morrison, Gibson et al. launch or revive their careers.

 Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping Dimitar Berbatov recovers from an ankle injury to give Manchester United